2 reasons why Wacha is off to a brilliant start in 2026

Here is the list of runs that Royals starter Michael Wacha has allowed this season.

--Solo homer to the Guardians' Steven Kwan on April 6.

That's it. That's the list. When the veteran right-hander climbs the mound tonight in New York against the Yankees, he'll take the second-best ERA among qualified starters with him (0.43). He also ranks second in WHIP (0.71) and sixth in opponents' OPS (.452).

Here are two reasons why the beginning of Wacha's 14th Major League season has been his best yet.

He has hitters guessing

When you possess six pitches like Wacha does, you can make life tough on opposing hitters, who aren't sure what's going to come out of his hand next. Judging by some metics, Wacha is doing a good job making that confusion work to his benefit.

Hitters should want to attack pitches in the zone, but against the Royals' veteran righty, their in-zone swing rate is 61.2%, far less than his rate last year (70.0%) and below his previous career low of 65.9%, set in 2013 and '23.

Meanwhile, hitters are swinging out of the zone more than they have in any season versus Wacha. His 34.6% chase rate ranks in the 83rd percentile in MLB and is a six-point jump from his 2025 chase rate (28.3%). All of that chase helps create more whiffs, and Wacha's whiff rate has also taken a significant leap, up eight points from last year (21.3% to 29.5%).

He's working from in front

Wacha pounded the strike zone in his most recent start, delivering 63 of his 88 pitches for strikes -- including 17 in a row to start the game -- versus the White Sox.

He delivered a first-pitch strike to 20 of the 28 hitters he faced, which is right in line with his 70.3% rate for the season. That's tied for the fifth-highest first-strike rate among qualified pitchers. And when Wacha can get ahead and really start utilizing his wide arsenal, he can flummox opposing hitters, who are slashing .147/.237/.176 against him after falling behind 0-1.

In those 34 at-bats, hitters have mustered just one extra-base hit and have ended up striking out 15 times.